FRAMINGHAM, Mass.—On Thurs., April 7, the Armenian Church of the Holy Translators and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will present an illustrated lecture by Prof. Richard G. Hovannisian titled “In Search of Armenian Cilicia,” 7 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Translators, 38 Franklin St. in Framingham.
Hovannisian is the Armenian Educational Foundation Professor of Modern Armenian History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of the four-volume history The Republic of Armenia, Armenia on the Road to Independence, and has edited and contributed to more than 20 books including The Armenian Image in History and Literature, The Armenian Genocide in Perspective, The Armenian Genocide: History, Politics, Ethics, The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Remembrance and Denial, Looking Backward, Moving Forward, and eight volumes on historic Armenian cities and provinces, including the recently published Armenian Constantinople, co-edited by Hovannisian and Simon Payaslian. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in 1990.
After traveling through much of historic Western Armenia in 2006 (presented in a talk at the Church of the Holy Translators in 2009), Hovannisian returned to Asia Minor, this time as historian-guide of a tour organized by NAASR and led by Armen Aroyan.
Beginning with the rock-hewn Orthodox cave churches of Cappadocia, the group traveled to Caesarea/Gesaria, Talas, Evereg-Fenese, Chomakhlu, and over the Taurus Mountains to Hadjin, Sis, Adana, Tarsus, Mersin, Selefke, Dortyol, Antioch, Musa Dagh, Killis, Aintab, Zeitun, and Marash. Scenes from these former vibrant centers of Armenian life will be shown and discussed by Hovannisian in this special Boston-area presentation.
Reception and Book Sale
A reception will follow the presentation, and a number of Hovannisian’s books will be available for purchase. The Armenian Church of the Holy Translators is located close to the intersection of routes 135 and 126 in Framingham. For directions, visit www.armenianchurchofmetrowest.org. More information about the lecture is available by contacting NAASR at (617) 489-1610 or hq@naasr.org, or the Church of the Holy Translators at (508) 875-0868.
It is a great honor to listen to Prof. Hovannesian speak. He is one of the founders of Armenian studies in America and his work as an academic and scholar has inspired a new generation of Armenian historians. When he spoke at the Holy Translators church in 2009, he thrilled a packed audience with his presentation. This presentation on Cilicia, home of my grandmother, sounds equally attractive. Thank you NAASR and Holy Translators.